The 2026 Reyes Cup rosters are officially complete, with ten players confirmed for the third edition of the international nine-ball team competition, scheduled for October 15–18 at Makati Coliseum in the Philippines.
Indonesia’s Albert Januarta and Serbia’s Aleksa Pecelj claimed the final two places, completing Team Asia and Team Rest of the World ahead of their meeting in Manila.
Team Asia enters the competition as the two-time defending champion, while Team Rest of the World looks to secure its first Reyes Cup victory.
Complete 2026 Reyes Cup Rosters
Both teams feature two automatic qualifiers, two captain’s selections and one World Nineball Tour wildcard.
| Team Asia | Selection | Rest of the World | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇭 Carlo Biado | Automatic | 🇪🇸 Francisco Sánchez Ruiz | Automatic |
| 🇭🇰 Robbie Capito | Automatic | 🇺🇸 Shane Van Boening | Automatic |
| 🇵🇭 AJ Manas | Captain’s Pick | 🇩🇪 Joshua Filler | Captain’s Pick |
| 🇻🇳 Duong Quoc Hoang | WNT Wildcard | 🇺🇸 Fedor Gorst | Captain’s Pick |
| 🇮🇩 Albert Januarta | Captain’s Pick | 🇷🇸 Aleksa Pecelj | WNT Wildcard |
Team Asia Captain: 🇵🇭 Francisco “Django” Bustamante
Team Rest of the World Captain: 🇩🇪 Ralf Souquet
Januarta and Pecelj Complete the Lineups
Albert Januarta Makes History for Team Asia
At just 17 years old, Indonesia’s Albert Januarta becomes the youngest player ever selected to represent Team Asia at the Reyes Cup.
Nicknamed the “Giant Killer,” Januarta earned the final captain’s selection from Francisco Bustamante following his progress from junior competition to the professional World Nineball Tour.
A two-time junior champion on the WNT, Januarta will make his Reyes Cup debut alongside established names Carlo Biado, Robbie Capito and Duong Quoc Hoang, as well as returning 2025 MVP AJ Manas.
His inclusion continues Team Asia’s willingness to give emerging players an opportunity on one of nine-ball’s major team stages.
Aleksa Pecelj Rewarded for His 2026 Form
Serbia’s Aleksa Pecelj secured the final Team Rest of the World position after receiving the World Nineball Tour wildcard.
Pecelj produced several notable performances during the American swing of the 2026 season. He won the Phoenix Open, reached the US Open semifinals and finished runner-up at the Arizona Open.
The Serbian will make his Reyes Cup debut alongside Francisco Sánchez Ruiz, Shane Van Boening, Joshua Filler and Fedor Gorst.
Captain Ralf Souquet’s team combines established major champions with a newcomer who has delivered strong results against international competition this season.
Team Asia Chases a Third Straight Championship
Since the competition began in 2024, Team Asia has won both editions played in Manila.
| Year | Matchup | Final Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Team Asia vs Team Europe | 11–6 |
| 2025 | Team Asia vs Team Rest of the World | 11–3 |
The inaugural competition saw Team Asia defeat Team Europe under captain Efren “Bata” Reyes, with Aloysius Yapp earning MVP honors.
In 2025, the competition expanded to include players from the Rest of the World. Under Bustamante, Team Asia delivered an 11–3 victory, with AJ Manas named MVP.
The 2026 edition presents another test for the defending champions. While Asia retains several members of its championship-winning squad, the opposition includes reigning US Open champion Francisco Sánchez Ruiz, 2026 UK Open champion Joshua Filler and multiple-time world champions Shane Van Boening and Fedor Gorst.
Both sides will need to perform in the competition’s short-format singles, doubles and team matches, where each match contributes a point toward the overall result.
What You Need to Know
- Event: 2026 Reyes Cup
- Dates: October 15–18, 2026
- Venue: Makati Coliseum, Makati, Philippines
- Teams: Team Asia vs Team Rest of the World
- Defending champion: Team Asia
- Captains: Francisco Bustamante and Ralf Souquet
- Latest selections: Albert Januarta and Aleksa Pecelj
- Where to watch: WNT TV, with Philippine coverage also previously announced through One Sports platforms
With both rosters finalized, attention now shifts to the opening matches on October 15. Team Asia will attempt to extend its unbeaten Reyes Cup record, while Team Rest of the World seeks to end the defending champion’s two-year run.
Sources: World Nineball Tour / Matchroom Pool official announcements, October 2026.